Deepening police corruption

The Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party campaigned on ridding the island of corruption and many Jamaicans, eager for a change, bought his political pitch. Alas, the more things changed the more they remain the same.

Police corruption is still rife and there is little evidence that many in the Jamaica Constabulary Force want it to be changed or transformed into an honest, decent body of professionals. A month and a half ago I paid a visit to the Greater Portmore police station and I watched a head count taking place in the cells. In fact, I saw the activity of counting take place twice.

So it is with alarm, the public is being told that a known drug don walks away free from a head count. Those policemen in charge should face the full force of the law. Many of us still sit in our ivory tower and do not want to call a spade a spade. The reality is that over 80 per cent of the police force is corrupt and it has got worse since the change of government.

Police presence

Why are policemen at every little corner - at Chisholm Avenue, at Pechon Street, at Lyndurst Road, at Tollgate, at Burke Road, Spanish Town, at Alexandria, St Ann, etc, at late hours of the night waiting for some motorist who forgot to put on his/her seat belt or whose eyesight did not discern some remotely positioned 'Stop' sign while criminals run amok in the streets? Why is there this aggressive focus on traffic violation while you cannot get a police car to respond to your appeal for help when a burglary occurs, or there is noise violation or gun shooting?

Why do we have police coming two hours after a crime, while they zealously are visible at major traffic centres and thoroughfares? Why are the cars at bars and known habitats of drug men and those cheating the state coffers? Why are policemen moonlighting at plazas, whorehouses, betting shops, while the cries of citizens in need are unheard and ignored?